“First come in with me to land,” said the Fire Man. And they went in together.
When they reached the place, the Noseless One said:
“This is the man who saved my life when I was near to death.”
“I happened to save you because my course lay athwart your own,” said the wifeless man. “It is the first time for many days that I have been out at all in my kayak.”
“One beast and one only you may choose when you are on your homeward way. And be careful never to tell what you have seen, or it will go ill with your hunting hereafter.”
Those were the Fire Man’s words. And then the wifeless man rowed home.
But when the time for his expected return had come, he was nowhere to be seen, and the young girls began to rejoice at the misfortune which must have befallen him. For they could not bear the sight of that man.
But then suddenly he came in sight round the point, and at once all cried:
“Here comes one who looks like the wifeless man.”
And then all the young unmarried girls ran into their houses.